Bradley Wiggins – Great Britain

Event: Team Pursuit

Why They’re Worth Watching: Sir Bradley Wiggins is an all round cycling legend. With 4 Olympic Golds and a Tour De France under his belt there’s not style of racing that Wiggo can’t turn his hand to. Rio 2016 sees the British cycling phenomenon return to his track cycling roots in the Team Pursuit alongside a well balanced squad and a brand new Team GB bike packed with the latest cycling tech. With Wiggins insane work ethic Britain’s Team Pursuit lads look like a solid bet to bring home some track cycling medals.

Odds: 5/6

Jason Kenny – Great Britain

Event: Keirin and Sprint

Why They’re Worth Watching: Sprinting maestro Jason Kenny is a strong contender for add to Team GB’s track cycling medal hall this summer. His first Olympic appearance in the 2008 Beijing Games saw Kenny walk away with a silver for Sprint and a Gold in the Team Sprint, while four years later at London 2012 he went one better, taking Gold in both events. With 19 international medals to his name and both an OBE and MBE for his services to cycling, track cycling medal hopes will be high for this seasoned Olympic veteran.

Odds: 5/1 Keirin, 2/1 Sprint

Laura Trott – Great Britain

Event: Omnium and Team Pursuit

Why They’re Worth Watching: Despite the fact that she’s just 24 years old, Laura Trott is already among the most decorated of British women’s track cyclists, with two Olympic golds, seven World Championship golds and no fewer than ten European Championship golds to her name – and that’s not even counting the silvers and bronzes. Not only that, but she competes in two technically very tricky events – the Omnium, which tests riders’ skill in six separate track-based disciplines, and Team Pursuit, which requires great teamwork and communication. Having taken the track by storm and cleaned up in both events in London, she’ll be hoping to repeat the feat in the Rio Velodrome this summer. Fun fact: She’s engaged to fellow British cyclist Jason Kenny (see above).

Odds: 5/6 Omnium, 5/2 Team Pursuit

Zhong Tianshi – China

Event: Sprint

Why They’re Worth Watching: Zhong Tianshi is one of the fastest women on the planet. At the 2015 World Championships she set a new World Record for Team Sprint alongside fellow powerhouse Gong Jinjie. Despite this impressive performance Zhong has no Olympic title yet, but has enjoyed an excellent run of form medaling consistently over the last two years in world championships. As the current Sprint World Champion Zhong looks like a good bet for another track cycling medal this summer.

Odds: 7/2

Eddie Dawkins – New Zealand

Event: Keirin

Why They’re Worth Watching: Eddie Dawkins is a double threat for the Kiwi Olympic team, competing in multiple Olympic track cycling events. Though primarily a Team Sprinter, Big Dawk is also a force to be reckoned with in Keirin, coming second to Olympic favourite Joachim Eilers by just two one thousands of a second at the London World Championships this year. Dawkins is on top form at the moment medalling consistently over the last couple of years at both World Championship and Commonwealth level. With one Olympics already under his belt the powerful New Zealand rider knows what it takes to compete on the world’s biggest stage and will be keen to show Eilers what he’s truly capable of at Rio 2016.

Odds: 4/1

Fernando Gaviria – Colombia

Event: Omnium

Why They’re Worth Watching: At just 21, Fernando Gaviria is one of the younger track cyclists competing at this year’s Games. Competing internationally since 2012, Gaviria grabbed everyone’s attention at the at the 2015 Tour de San Luis, where he beat Team GB’s Mark Cavendish in two sprint finishes. The young Colombian clearly made an impression, signing later that year to the same team as Cavendish, Etixx-Quick Step. Gaviria has also held the Omnium World Championship title for the past two years making him a sure fire favourite to take another track cycling medal in Rio.

Odds: 5/2

Kristina Vogel – Germany

Event: Sprint and Keirin

Why They’re Worth Watching: Germany’s international track cycling medal tally would look very different without Kristina Vogel, averaging three medals a year since 2010, she consistently delivers results. Specialising in Sprint and Kerin events, Vogel is one half of the current Olympic champion pairing for Team Sprint.Since 2014 Kristina’s medal haul has been almost exclusively one colour, Gold, and that doesn’t look like a trend that will stop at Rio.

Odds: 7/2 Sprint, 5/2 Keirin

Lin Junhong – China

Event: Sprint

Why They’re Worth Watching: China’s second entry for the 2016 Olympic Sprint title, Lin Junhong is still a strong contender for the crown. Finishing in second place behind her team mate, Zhong Tianshi in this year’sWorld Championships put her ahead of German medal machine Kristian Vogel and into the bookies top picks for a Rio 2016 track cycling medal. Enjoying the same odds as both Tianshi and Vogel, Jonhong’s presence at this summer’s games means that the Women’s Sprint should be one of the most hotly contested events of Rio 2016.

Odds: 7/2

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